Islamabad, Nov. 29 (TNS): Interior Minister Ahsan Iqbal said on Wednesday that the government had ordered to disperse the protest in Faizabad in order to avert sectarian unrest.
“The protest in Faizabad was not related with [upholding] finality of the prophethood,” Iqbal said while addressing a news conference in Islamabad. “It was [part of] a conspiracy being hatched to stir sectarian unrest in the country.”
“Pakistan’s constitution is very clear on the oath relating to the finality of Prophethood,” he said. “We need to avoid sectarian unrest in Pakistan at all costs.”
Iqbal added: “All stakeholders including the civil and the military played their role in containing the situation and the authorities eventually overcame it.”
He reiterated that some of the protesters were armed and had reacted violently to police.
The minister appealed the nation to work towards religious harmony, especially during the current month.
“[In ideal circumstances], we did not want to shut transmission of television channels,” he said. “We support freedom of speech.”
Hitting back at Imran Khan who earlier criticised the government for “mishandling the situation arising out of the protest,” and working to save deposed premier Nawaz Sharif from accountability, Iqbal said the PTI chief wouldn’t be able to become the prime minister even if the entire Cabinet resigns.
“We don’t want endorsements from Imran Khan but from 200 million people of this country,” he said.
He added that Pakistan is on the path to progress and will make its way to the top 20 economies by year 2030.
